Power struggle within Barzani Tribe

2018-12-17 23:28:24

Nechirvan Barzani left the premiership after 20 years for his cousin, Masrour Barzani

By Surkew Mohammed

The Security Council of the Kurdistan region has been firmly controlled by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) since its inception, without any room for negotiation. Now, the deputy leader of KDP, Nechirvan Barzani, and the chairman of the council - to be next prime minister- competes to control it.

Nominating Masrour Barzani for the position of prime minister, and Nechirvan Barzani for president, convey changes inside the KDP and the Kurdistan region. However, many other positions are related to the change, one of them being the Security Council.

Since its foundation, Masrour Barzani has been the chairman of the council, and his party refused to negotiate the council with any party. The council consists of Asayish [security] Department of the Kurdistan region and the intelligence departments of Parastin and Zaniyari (KDP and PUK).

According to the law number of 2011, "The council has a chairman, which is appointed by the president with the ministerial rank. He/she manages the departments and coordinates among them."

The council depended on the former president Masoud Barzani in the past. When the presidency position was suspended last year, the council was in the remit of the prime minister.

In the new cabinet of KRG, Masrour Barzani leaves the council for the premiership but still wishes to hold onto the former.

An informed source, closely observing the issue told Peregraf, "Kak [honorary title] Masrour wants the Security Council under his control, and wants to appoint someone close to himself for the chairmanship."

However, it stands against Nechirvan Barzani, "Nechirvan Barzani does not accept that."

Nechirvan Barzani seems to manoeuvre to be appointed as president before the government formation, in order to appoint the chairman of the council and tie it to the presidency.

The presidency has been easily formed compared to the cabinet in the region.

However, Masrour Barzani wants to retain some of the council's staff for the Ministers Council and leave some behind for the council to handle.

Nechirvan's supporters insist on appointing the president before the government formation, due to their fear of such complications.

Due to the partisan nature of intelligence and armed forces in the region, the officials from such forces exert influence inside their party and in the region. Reshuffling them prove to be difficult, and a source of competition between the two ruling parties, KDP and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).

KDP is not going to put the council at the negotiating table. Other parties have also not requested such a move.

Meanwhile, Nechirvan Barzani wants presidency with the same law that senior Barzani, Masoud Barzani, was managing it, the law number 1 of 2005, without any amendments.

The opposition parties have always opposed to the law, claiming it gives diverse executive powers to the president to a broad extent.

However, if the cabinet is to be formed first, then junior Barzani, Masrour Barzani, is free to invest in his executive authority.

Masrour Barzani, 49, is the oldest son of Masoud Barzani, the former president of the Kurdistan region and current leader of KDP. He has been the chief of KDP's intelligence, Parastin (meaning protection in Kurdish)for 14 years, and has been the chief of Kurdistan region's National Security Council for 6 years. In reality, his powers have not extended to the Sulaimaniyah province, the area under the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Gorran Movement.

In his new duty, junior Barzani aims at "a strong and different government". He takes the position when his party is the strongest through ballots. With their affiliated component seats in parliament, they can easily secure an absolute majority.

PUK has decided to take part, while the New Generation, Kurdistan Islamic Union and Communist Party have voiced their stance as opposition groups. Gorran and KIG are yet to decide, but Gorran is closer to participation. The participants have the tendency to influence the presidential positions.

Since the presidency was introduced in the Kurdistan region in 2005, KDP has filled the position with its leader, Masoud Barzani. He completed two terms in 2013, but his tenure was extended for two years until 2015. After 10 years in his position, Barzani continued through a decree of the Jurisdiction Council of the Kurdistan region. Although he could go on until the next election, he left the post last year due to the independence referendum consequences.

Selahettin Demirtas calls on the international community to be present while he is being tried this week.

Power struggle within Barzani Tribe

2018-12-17 23:28:24

By Surkew Mohammed

The Security Council of the Kurdistan region has been firmly controlled by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) since its inception, without any room for negotiation. Now, the deputy leader of KDP, Nechirvan Barzani, and the chairman of the council - to be next prime minister- competes to control it.

Nominating Masrour Barzani for the position of prime minister, and Nechirvan Barzani for president, convey changes inside the KDP and the Kurdistan region. However, many other positions are related to the change, one of them being the Security Council.

Since its foundation, Masrour Barzani has been the chairman of the council, and his party refused to negotiate the council with any party. The council consists of Asayish [security] Department of the Kurdistan region and the intelligence departments of Parastin and Zaniyari (KDP and PUK).

According to the law number of 2011, "The council has a chairman, which is appointed by the president with the ministerial rank. He/she manages the departments and coordinates among them."

The council depended on the former president Masoud Barzani in the past. When the presidency position was suspended last year, the council was in the remit of the prime minister.

In the new cabinet of KRG, Masrour Barzani leaves the council for the premiership but still wishes to hold onto the former.

An informed source, closely observing the issue told Peregraf, "Kak [honorary title] Masrour wants the Security Council under his control, and wants to appoint someone close to himself for the chairmanship."

However, it stands against Nechirvan Barzani, "Nechirvan Barzani does not accept that."

Nechirvan Barzani seems to manoeuvre to be appointed as president before the government formation, in order to appoint the chairman of the council and tie it to the presidency.

The presidency has been easily formed compared to the cabinet in the region.

However, Masrour Barzani wants to retain some of the council's staff for the Ministers Council and leave some behind for the council to handle.

Nechirvan's supporters insist on appointing the president before the government formation, due to their fear of such complications.

Due to the partisan nature of intelligence and armed forces in the region, the officials from such forces exert influence inside their party and in the region. Reshuffling them prove to be difficult, and a source of competition between the two ruling parties, KDP and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).

KDP is not going to put the council at the negotiating table. Other parties have also not requested such a move.

Meanwhile, Nechirvan Barzani wants presidency with the same law that senior Barzani, Masoud Barzani, was managing it, the law number 1 of 2005, without any amendments.

The opposition parties have always opposed to the law, claiming it gives diverse executive powers to the president to a broad extent.

However, if the cabinet is to be formed first, then junior Barzani, Masrour Barzani, is free to invest in his executive authority.

Masrour Barzani, 49, is the oldest son of Masoud Barzani, the former president of the Kurdistan region and current leader of KDP. He has been the chief of KDP's intelligence, Parastin (meaning protection in Kurdish)for 14 years, and has been the chief of Kurdistan region's National Security Council for 6 years. In reality, his powers have not extended to the Sulaimaniyah province, the area under the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Gorran Movement.

In his new duty, junior Barzani aims at "a strong and different government". He takes the position when his party is the strongest through ballots. With their affiliated component seats in parliament, they can easily secure an absolute majority.

PUK has decided to take part, while the New Generation, Kurdistan Islamic Union and Communist Party have voiced their stance as opposition groups. Gorran and KIG are yet to decide, but Gorran is closer to participation. The participants have the tendency to influence the presidential positions.

Since the presidency was introduced in the Kurdistan region in 2005, KDP has filled the position with its leader, Masoud Barzani. He completed two terms in 2013, but his tenure was extended for two years until 2015. After 10 years in his position, Barzani continued through a decree of the Jurisdiction Council of the Kurdistan region. Although he could go on until the next election, he left the post last year due to the independence referendum consequences.